Overview

Step Forward is a women’s economic empowerment initiative designed to support young women in the West Bank to access employment opportunities through a practical, market-oriented approach that combines employability training with real work exposure.

Why Step Forward

Young women in the West Bank face compounded barriers to employment. Movement restrictions and recurring disruptions to economic life limit access to jobs and livelihood opportunities, while the mismatch between university education and labor market needs makes the transition from graduation to work even more difficult. These realities contribute to disproportionately high unemployment among women and reduce their ability to participate safely and consistently in the labor force.

What the Project Does

Step Forward pioneered a new model to strengthen women’s participation in the labor market by:

• equipping young women with employment and workplace readiness skills
• improving awareness of career pathways and available opportunities
• providing practical experience that supports smoother entry into work
• strengthening connections between young women and potential employers through networking and engagement

This approach shaped Sharek Youth Forum’s longer-term direction on women’s economic empowerment and contributed to developing a five-year gender strategy that guided Sharek’s programming until 2021, supporting the mainstreaming of gender across all programmes.

Key Figures (Context)

• 42.8% of women are unemployed, compared to 22.3% of men
• 48.1% of women with 13+ years of schooling are unemployed
• 50% of women in a recent survey believe institutions prefer hiring men
• 86% of women in a recent survey believe nepotism is vital to securing a job